# Mary Byrne — Short Plays character guide

> Mary Byrne in Short Plays by J. M. Synge.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mary, Mary Calling, old Mary

**First appearance:** 0006-the-tinker-s-wedding

## Snapshot

An old tinker woman with a jug and a tongue, who laughs at her son's wedding plans and warns that a ring buys no ease in childbirth.

## Who they are

Mary Byrne arrives at the roadside camp with porter and opinions, mocking Michael for being a black born fool to marry a woman who would wander anyway. She needles Sarah with hard-won talk of grand ladies in silk who suffer the same torments, then grows uneasy when she hears the gold and the tin can are being handed over. Her derision and dread unsettle the wedding bargain just as it is being struck.

## Relationships

### [Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se/characters/priest)

_psychological_

Mary manipulates and teases the Priest, using her wit and charm to unsettle him and gain leverage.

### [Sarah Casey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se/characters/sarah_casey)

_family_

Mary is Sarah's mother, and their relationship is marked by tension, with Mary often interfering in Sarah's life.

### [Michael Byrne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se/characters/michael_byrne)

_family_

Mary is Michael's mother, and she both supports and manipulates him in his romantic pursuits.

## In the story

### [Act I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se/chapters/act-i)

Arrives drunk with porter, sings tipsily, and tries to get the priest to drink, showing her rebellious and lonesome nature.

### [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se/chapters/act-ii)

Wakes from sleep, tries to interfere with the wedding preparations, hides the tin can, and later blames Sarah for the deceit, hiding behind the priest for protection.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se/characters/mary_byrne
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_2_se/characters